Heater terminal block



Feb. '6, 1940. A. BARNSTEINER ET! AL 2,189,622

HEATER TERMINAL BLOCK Filed Nov. 30, .1937 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Fig. l n

WITNESSES: INVENTORS lllfons fiarnsteiner ZA gyinfllockwood.

Feb. 6, 1940. I A. BARNSTEINER ET AL 2,189,622

HEATER TERMINAL BLOCK Filed Nov. '50. 1937 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Fig.3, Bucnwnn's up 6:2 am 19 22 28 4a 2W8 ifig 3 d3 2 24 42 K J .C I

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WITNESSES: INVENTORS Alfons Barnsteiner if z-gd mwfl. Lac/(Mod.

ATTORNEY Patented Feb. 6, 1940 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 2,189,622manna TERMINAL anocx Application November 30, 1937, Serial No. 177,311

SOIaims.

Our invention relates to range surface units and more particularly to aterminal block for such units.

An obiect of our invention is to provide a two- 8 part terminal blockformed in such a manner that the parts may be operatively associatedwith each other in only one relative position.

A further object of our invention is to provide means whereby supplylines cannot be connected to the surface unit in an improper manner.

A further object of our invention is to provide means for preventing theterminal block from becoming disengaged from the supply wires.

A further object of our invention is to provide 15 means for preventingany spillage from reaching the terminals.

Other objects of our invention will either be pointed out specificallyin the course of the following description of one form 01' structureemso bodying our invention, or will be apparent from such description.

Referring to the accompanying drawings:

Figure '1 is a bottom view of a surface unit embodying our invention.

gs Fig. 2 is a partial sectional view taken along the line II-II of Fig.1.

Fig. 3' is a side elevational view of the device shown in Fig. 1; and,

Figs. 4, 5 and 6 are partial side elevational 30 views of the deviceshown in Figs. 1 and 3 with the movable terminal block in its variousinoperative positions.

. Referring to the accompanying drawings, we show a range surface unitll comprising a sup- 5 porting pan i2, an insulating block l4 locatedtherein, a surface heater element It and our two-part terminal block It.

The supporting pan i2 is used primarily for retaining the insulatingblock l4 in position and for rigidly attaching the surface unit it to arange. The supporting pan i2 is preferably formed of sheet metal.However, it is to be understood that it may be made of any materialdesired.

The terminal block it includes a stationary block 20 and a movable block22. The terminal block it is composed of ceramic material or of anyother suitable insulating material. The stationary block 20 has acentrally recessed portion 50 24 within which terminals 26 are located.The stationary block 20 is held rigidly against the supporting pan i2 bymeans of through bolts 2! cooperating with upwardly extending ears It,integral with the supporting pan i2.

as A notch 45 is provided in one corner of block 20 below the recess 24and a flange 21 is located at the corners directly above notch 45, forpurposes to be described later.

Suitable terminals or straps 22 are rigidly attached at one end to theends of the resistance ii elements 24 located within the heating unit itby means of nuts It substantially as shown in Fig. 1, in accordance witha familiar practice. The straps 32 extend within slotted apertures 38located within the stationary terminal block 2., where they constituteterminals 2 to which the power leads iii are attached, as by bolts 2|.Suitable wing nuts 52 may be operatively associated with the throughbolts 28 after the movable block 22 is operatively associated with thestationary block so as to hold the movable block 22 rigidly against thestationary block. If it be desired, ground wire 54 as shown in Fig. 1may be operatively associated with one of the through bolts 28 and wingnut I2 to ground the surface 20 unit ill through the cooperating actionof the wing nut I2, through bolt 28, ear 3! and supporting pan I2.

The movable terminal block 22 is likewise composed of ceramic materialor or any other suitas able insulating material. The block 22 comprisesa main body portion 2! and an upwardly protruding portion 4|, a curvedportion 42 and a flange or ridge 44. The upwardly protruding portion 40shown in Figs. 1 and 2 extends across the full width of such block. Thecurved portion 42 is substantially in the form of a sector of a cylinderand extends away from the stationary block 20 when the movable block 22is operatively associated therewith. The flange 44 is located on theside adjacent to the stationary block 20 as the movable block 22 isoperatively associated therewith, and is located on the opposite side ofthe movable block from the protruding portion 40. The flange 44 istherefore also located on 4 theside opposite to the curved portion 42substantially as shown in Figs. 2 and 4 to 6, inclusive. A plurality ofapertures 46 are located within the main body portion 39 of the movableblock 22 and are in such a position that they will 45 permit the throughbolt 28 to extend therethrough as the movable block 22 is operativelyassociated with the stationary block 20.

When it is desired to have the movable block 22 operatively associatedwith the stationary 150 block 20. the movable block 22 is positioned infront of the stationary block 20 in such a manner that the apertures 46will be in line with the through bolts 28 permitting the movable block22 to be slid thereon. As the movable block 2 2,1ao,'caa

22 is slid along the through bolts 2.. the flange it will becomeoperatively associated within notch II in block 22 permitting themovable block 22 to be slid along the through bolts 22 I until it willcontact and become operatively assoelated with the stationary member 22.The iiange 21 will then contact the movable block 22. The protrudingportion II will also extend shove the movable block 22 on the sideopposite lo the supporting pan i2 and the curved portion 42 will be onthe side opposite to the stationary mock 2..

Should the movable block 22 be positioned upon the through bolts 28 in areverse manner. that is, with the curved portion 42 facing thestationary block 20, but right side up, the curved portion 42 willcontact the stationary block 20 and prohibit the movable block 22 frombecoming operatively associated therewith, the bolts m 22 not being longenough to permit the blocks 20 and 22 to be fastened together in suchposition, as shown in Fig. 4.

Should the movable block 22 be rotated substantially 180 from thecorrect position shown I in Fig. 2, as illustrated in Fig. 5, the flange44 will then be located in the top thereof or that portion of the blockopposite from the retaining pan l2 and the curved portion-42 will belocated on the side opposite from the stationary member 20. 80 Shouldone attempt to place the movable block 22 in association withthestationary block 20 in such a manner, the protruding portion 40 willcontact the pan l2 and prohibit the two blocks from becoming operativelyassociated. Should one attempt to place the movable block 22 inassociation with the stationary block 20 in a reverse position to thatshown in Fig. 5, as illustrated in Fig. 6, the curved portion 42 wouldcontact the stationary block 20 prohibitingthe two 40 blocks frombecoming operatively associated. Should it be desired to place themovable block 22 in association with the stationary block 20 which isoperatively associated with the supporting pan l2 as shown in Fig. 6,the protruding portion 40 will contact the supporting pan l2 prohibitingthe movement of the movable block 22 along the through bolts 22.

It is therefore obvious that as shown in Figs. 4 to 6, inclusive, and ashereinabove described, it o is impossible to locate or position themovable block 22 in operative association with the stationary block 20,except when the block is positioned substantially as shown in Fig. 2, orwhen the flange H is facing the stationary block 20, u the curvedportion 42 is located on the side opposite to the stationary block 29,and the'protruding portion 40 is located at the top of the movableblock.

A plurality of angularly disposed slots 48 extend through the movableblock 22 substantially as shown in Figs. 1, 2 and 3. The slots 48 arepositioned within the movable block 22 so that as the movable block isoperatively associated with the stationary block 20 the slots 48 will bein line as with the terminals 26.

A plurality of feed wires 50 which may have eyelets ii on the endsthereof are inserted through the angularly displaced slots 42 in such amanner that they will be readily associated with the ter- 20 minals 26when the movable block 22 is properly associated with stationary block20. The feed wires Sll may be distinguished one from the others by anywell known color markings. With the I feed wires 50 extending throughthe movable II block 22 from the curved portion 42 through to theopposite side, it is obvious that such feed wires may be readilyassociated with the terminals 28 as the movable and stationary blocksbe- .come operatively associated. However, if the movable block 22 beaccidentally rotated substan- I tially 180 as shown in Fig. 5, theprotruding portion 42, because of contacting pan l2, will prevent theoperative association of the two blocks and therefore prevent theaccidental connection oi the power lines 82 with the heating element llthrough terminals 2|.

It is therefore obvious that, with the power lines ill threaded throughthe movable block 22 in a correct manner as hereinabove described, dueto the protruding portion ll, the movable block 22 is can be associatedwith the stationary block 22 in only one position of such block, thusprohibiting the accidental connection of the power lines I. to thesurface unit in an improper manner.

The eyelets 5 located on the ends of the feed I wires 50, after havingbeen inserted through the angular slots 42, and when turned to ahorizontal or operative position, will prohibit the movable block fromsliding off the feed wires. It is, therefore, obvious that the movableblock 22 may be ll placed on the feed wires III at the factory, which inturn enables the surface units to be quickly and accurately installed bythe service man who installs the range.

The colored feed wires 50 usually turn black Q or lose their colordistinction with continued use of the surface unit. This loss ofadequate distinction of the feed wires sometimes is the cause of removedor replaced units being improperly connected to the feed wires. therobvious that with our movable block 22 associated with the feed wiresill as a unit at the factory, such block, constructed as describedabove, will prohibit the feed wires from being improperly connected tothe surface unit.

If, perchance, the power lines 50 be accidentally threaded through theangularly placed slots 42 in a reverse manner, that is, from the flangedside of the movable block 22 through to the curved portion side, it isobvious from an inspection of 5 Figs. 4 and 6, the curved portion 42 dueto its striking the stationary block or the protruding portion due toits striking the supporting pan l2, will warn the operator that theparts are improperly assembled and thus prevent the so power lines frombeing connected to the terminals 26.

It is therefore obvious that regardless of whether or not the powerlines be inserted through the movable block 22 in a proper or im 66proper manner, such block, due to its characteristic design, and theinability to place wing-nut 82 on through bolts 28, will prohibit theimproper connection of the power lines to the terminals 20.

Various modifications may be made in the de vice embodying our inventionwithout departing from the spirit and scope thereof, and we desiretherefore, that only such limitations shall be placed thereon as areimposed by the prior art and the appended claims.

We claim as our invention:

1. A support, a two-part terminal block, one of said parts beingstationary and positioned upon said support and having a plurality ofspaced apertures, the second of said parts being removable and having aface conforming to a face of said stationary part and engaging therewithin the correct assembly of said parts and a second face non-conformingwith respect thereto, said removable part also having a plurality ofspaced It is, therefore. fura" through the-apertures of said stationarypart, a

plurality of additional conductors movably disposed through theapertures of said removable part, and fastening means long enough tohold said parts together only when said conforming faces are inengagement thereby to insure correct alinement of said conductors andadditional conductors.

2. A support, a two-part terminal block, one of said parts beingstationary and positioned upon said support and having a plurality ofspaced apertures, the second of said parts being removable and having aface conforming to a face of said stationary part and engaging therewithin the correct assembly of said parts and a second face non-conformingwith respect thereto, said removable part also having a plurality ofspaced apertures disposed substantially in respective alinement with thefirst mentioned apertures, a plurality of conductors stationarilydisposed through the apertures of said stationary part, a plurality ofadditional conductors movably disposed through the apertures of saidremovable part, said parts each having an opening, fastening meansdisposed in said openings and long enough to project beyond the openingin said removable part only when said conforming faces are in engagementthereby to insure correct alinement of said conductors and additionalconductors, tightening means applicable to the projecting end of saidfastening means when extending beyond the said opening to tightlyassemble said parts, and means. for securing together the adjacent endsof the respectively alined conductors.

3. A support, a two-part terminal block, one of said parts beingstationary and positioned upon said support and having a plurality ofspaced apertures, the second of said parts being removable and having aface conforming to a face of said stationary part and engaging therewithin the correct assembly of said parts and a second face non-conformingwith respect thereto, said removable part also having a plurality ofspaced apertures disposed substantially in respective alinement with thefirst mentioned apertures, a plurality of conductors stationarilydisposed through the apertures of said stationary part, a plurality ofadditional conductors movably dis; posed through the apertures of saidremovable part, said conforming faces also having a flangeand-recessconnection, thereby to insure correct alinement of said conductors andadditional conductors, and fastening means long enough to hold saidparts together only when said conforming faces are in engagement andsaid fiange-and-recess connection is effective, and means for securingtogether within the bounds of said stationary part the adjacent ends ofthe respectively alined conductors.

ALFONS BARNS'I'EINER. EDWIN H. LOCKWOOD.

